The Washington critic., 1887-12-08
AMONG THE FINNY TRIBE
The Exhibition of Fishes That will
Soon be Opened.
a Special Building Nccded-.-A Per-
mnncnt Institution Suggcstcd--.
Its Benefit to Science.

Washington seems destined in the not
very distant future 10 become very
paradise for the student of natural his
tory. The National Museum and Smith
sonian have long offered unsurpassed
facilities for research in the particular
fields they cover, but there has been
lamcntablc lack Of facilities for the
study of natural history from live sub
iects.
The little collection Of live animals
made by the National Museum though,
inimportant Mt present, may prove the
nucleus of what may, with proper Con-
grcssionnl aid, be made the finest and
most valuable geological collection in
the country.
In addition to this the Fish Commits
sion is preparing fine collection of
fresh and saltwater fishes, mostly con-
fined to those Of economic value, but
which will, incidentally, contain many
varieties of marine life not valuable for
food, but interesting for study.
PERMANENT FISH EXHIBITION.
This collection will be located in the
old Armory on the Mall, where quite Il
start has already been made toward
making permanent fish exhibition.
The lower floor is filled with long tables,
on which are placed the glass tanks con-
tanning the fishes. These aquarcs are
made with glass walls and the fishes can,
ut all times, be examined minutely.
| TREsII-wATER SPECIMENS.
There are at present about forty varic-
ties of fresh water fish on exhibition in
addition to the regular hatcheries of
carp, shad, etc. The most interesting of
these is n small fish from South Caro-
lima, which brings forth It's young alive,
as animals do, instead of in the form of
eggs, as is almost universal among the
tinny tribes. In another tank are u
hundred or so Mississippi River catfish,
from river in the neighborhood of
Quincy, Ill. These are Western fish,
and the Fish Commission is going to in
troduce them into the Eastern rivers on
account of their great value as II food
fish. The flesh is white, firm, and fine
favored. The present experiment is to
see If they can be made to spawn in cap
tivity.
JAPANESE GOLD FISH.
Another tank is full of beautifully col
ored gold fish originally from Japan.
Gold fish are not indigenous to any part
of America and are all of Asiatic or
Japanese origin, the latter being much
| the hands0mest. Several specimens of
the California greylng, the gamest of
all the gamy fishes found in the rapid
| flowing mountain rtreams, are also to be
! seen.
This week the superintendent of this
branch of the work will start for
Woods Holl, Mass, with the United
States Fish Commission steamer Fish
Hawk, and bring back with him the
| fine collection of salt water fauna
| which has been there all summer, and
is to be placed on exhibition ut the
Armory. In addition to the various
food fishes of the ocean this exhibit
will contain many other interesting
forms of sea life.
A NEW BUILDING NEEDED.
The location of the collection in the
first story of the Armory leaves much to
be desired, and is but poorly adapted to
the needs of the work. Such collection
should be located in building built ex-
pressly for the purpose, similar to a con-
servatory, where the tanks could be in
the direct light of the sun, and such n
building will, probably, ultimately be
erected. The equipment at the Armory
is very good the place being well sup
piled with the pipes, tanks, pumps and
engines necessary to the work.
SALT WATER FISHES.
The exhibit of salt water fishes is in
tended, in addition to its airording val
liable means of study to demonstrate
on a large scale the feasibility of keep
ing collection of ocean fauna at point
remote from the sea. The water used
will be artificial sea water, and the ex-
pertinent has never before been made
on so large scale. The difficulties
attending the transportation of sea
water prevent such exhibitions at any
distance from the ocean.
The exhibition will be tastefully and
conveniently arranged. The asphalt
floor is always dry and the display in-
teresting and instructive to the INITIATED
as well as to the scientist, and will also
give valuable aid in the other work OF
the Fish Commission
INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION.
| ~ i"S bsSh lC'ciitiN nuSgcsttti, unt
the proposition meets with great favor
among the Fish Commission officials,
that an international fisheries exposition
be held here in the near future, either
in connection with the three Americas
exposition or at some other time. Such
expositions have been held in Berlin
London and other foreign cities, bu,
never in America. The Fish Commits
sion has many things appropriate fol
such an exposition packed away in
the corners of the National Museum
that were exhibited at the Fisheries FIX
position in Berlin, and the collection
could easily be greatly extended with
result very gratifying to those interested
in American fisheries.
An exposition such as proposed woulc
be of lasting and incalculable value, and
Congress should not fail to take som,
action in the matter at the present ses
sion.